11 juveniles granted presidential pardon

Eleven inmates of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) on Thursday received pardons from President David Granger. These comprise nine females and two males between the ages 13 and 17.
According to the Government in a release, the pardons will take effect from Thursday, December 20, 2018.
It is expected that this expression of compassion and humanity by the Head of State will result in families being reunited, with the pardoned offenders leading good and fruitful lives henceforth. Since his ascent to office, President Granger has pardoned dozens of prisoners.
On Wednesday, the President pardoned three female prisoners, thus allowing them to be home for Christmas.
The three women were pardoned pursuant to presidential powers under Article 188(2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
The trio – Joanna Beckles, 26; Felicia Henry, 22 and Keysha Gibbs, 17 – who were all at the New Amsterdam Prison for various offences will be released today. The women have all served a portion of their respective sentences for larceny and forgery.
In 2015, 60 convicts were granted presidential pardons on Guyana’s 49th Independence anniversary by the President.
The release of prisoners in 2015 caused much controversy after Government had refused to release the names and offences of those pardoned.
The President had indicated intentions to release another 60 young men and women in 2016, but this did not materialise.
In 2017, nine women prisoners were pardoned for Guyana’s 47th Republic Anniversary.
The prisoners, who were all inmates at the New Amsterdam penitentiary, were Kamla Bisram, 30; Malinda Beaton, 31; Charissazan Charles, 18; Sasha Christopher, 18; Jenny Davis, 26; Vanessa Frank, 26; Barbra Hunte, 51; Kamwattie Persaud, 23 and Dhanmattie Seenarine, 47.